Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Elihu continued:

1Then Elihu continued and said,

2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.

2"Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who know.

3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

3"For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.

4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

4"Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

5"For Job has said, 'I am righteous, But God has taken away my right;

6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?

7"What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water,

8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?

9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

9"For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing When he is pleased with God.'

10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

10"Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

11"For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way.

12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

12"Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.

13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?

13"Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world?

14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

14"If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,

15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

16"But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.

17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

17"Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,

18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

18Who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' To nobles, 'Wicked ones';

19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

19Who shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands?

20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

20"In a moment they die, and at midnight People are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without a hand.

21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.

21"For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.

22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

22"There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.

23"For He does not need to consider a man further, That he should go before God in judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.

24"He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.

25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

25"Therefore He knows their works, And He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,

26"He strikes them like the wicked In a public place,

27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.

27Because they turned aside from following Him, And had no regard for any of His ways;

28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted--

29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,

29When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him, That is, in regard to both nation and man?--

30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.

30So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people.

31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

31"For has anyone said to God, 'I have borne chastisement; I will not offend anymore;

32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will not do it again '?

33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.

33"Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; Therefore declare what you know.

34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:

34"Men of understanding will say to me, And a wise man who hears me,

35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’

35'Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.

36'Job ought to be tried to the limit, Because he answers like wicked men.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

37'For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.'"

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